Meet IAS Topper Renu Raj: AIR 2 2014

UPSC is one of the most prestigious and toughest exams in India. There are many young aspirants who want to become an IAS officer. But the journey towards IAS is not everyone’s cup of tea. You can achieve it by doing hard work with proper dedication.

From the past few years, we have seen mostly the toppers of the exam used to take coaching classes for their preparation. The candidates who are living in the metro city have the advantage of these institutes. But for Renu, there is no barrier to anything. She makes it to the exam only by her hard work.

Renu proved that you do not need any kind of facility to clear the exam, the only thing you need is your dedication towards your hard work. Renu secured 2nd rank and become a national topper without any coaching.

Early Life

Renu raj is a married woman. She is a doctor and currently, she is also working at a hospital. Her family was supportive to her throughout the whole journey. Her mother, father, and husband all of them supported her. It was her dream to become an IAS officer and do something for our country.

Her father was an employee of the Kerala State Transport. He is retired now. She said that her father helped her a lot to crack the exam. He always motivated her to prepare well for the exam. Her mother is a housewife but she also had an important role in her success.

Usually, when a woman gets married, people thought that the career of the woman is ended. But Renu proved everything wrong by starting her new career after marriage. His husband never stops her doing anything. She had a freedom of following her dreams.

In her interview with Hindustan times she stated that” Though I performed well in the examination and interview, I never expected such a position. It was really unexpected. I will use this great opportunity to serve the people well”. She also said that “I want to tell aspiring candidates that perseverance has its reward”.

According to her, an IAS officer can help our country in many ways. In the IAS you can interact with the people and serve the needy people. She wants to give back to the society what society has given her.

Educational Life

She is currently a doctor and very soon she will joining her training for the IAS. She was a brilliant student from her school days. She has extrovert personality, she is a type of person who is always ready to adopt new things.

She did her schooling from the school at Kerala as she is the residence of Kerala. She got 96.3% in her 10th standard. Later on, she opted for medical science in 11th class and she secured 95% marks in her 12th standard.

When she completed her schooling, she wants to do MBBS and here also her parents supported her and let her do MBBS. She completed her MBBS from a Government Medical college at Kottayam. She secured 69.3% in her MBBS.
After doing her MBBS she also joined a hospital as a doctor and currently working there. She will be soon joining her training.

Struggle

She was in a different profession. To become an IAS is not at all easy for her. For that, she had to do a lot of hard work as well as smart work. She was a doctor when she was preparing for the exams. So, she has to manage both the fields.

No one from her family ever attempted Civil Services Examination. So, she had no idea about where to start but her husband helped her in everything. He provided her everything she needs during her preparation. He told her about different study materials and websites.

She used to prepare for the exams from different websites, online study materials. People who are living in the metro city will have many advantages like: coaching institutes, study materials, communication skills and lot more. But this never disheartened Renu during her preparation.

She gave her 100% to her preparation and cleared the exam in her first attempt.

Strategy

Strategy decides your pattern of studies in throughout your preparation. Strategy always doesn’t mean to make a schedule of all the things you need to read. Strategy helps you to know what not to do during your preparation.
The strategies Renu used to follow to achieve her dreams is discussed below:

Read Newspaper

The newspaper will help you to know about current affairs which will further help you to crack your exam. Newspaper have all types of sections like entertainment, sports, politics etc. these all are the topics you need to read for your examination.

Renu chooses Malayalam as her optional subject, so she used to read Malayalam newspaper also. It helped her to know about Malayalam better.

Use Social Networks

As Renu belongs to a small town and also she does not join any classes for her preparation. So, what helped her during her journey is the internet. Nowadays people are addicted to the internet so, use it in a right manner.

You can join groups on FB and Whatsapp to gain some general knowledge and current affairs. She also joined many groups on FB and WhatsApp during her preparation. Use our addiction in a right direction it will definitely help you to achieve your success.

Online Websites

Now when you are not attending any kind of classes you take help of some online websites. There are many websites available on the internet who will help you to prepare for the exam.

Renu used to follow Insightsofindia, try to give tests on insights it will help you to remember things easily. You can also take help from Mrunal.org or clearias etc.

Be Smart with your Optional Subject

Always be smart when you are choosing your optional subject. The optional subject is the only choice you will have in your exam, so, use that choice properly. Choose a subject which you have a knowledge of and you enjoy studying.

Renu chooses Malayalam as her optional subject as she is from Kerala so she knows Malayalam. This helped her to score well in optional subjects.